MASHPEE — Parents, school officials and first responders met Wednesday night to discuss current and future safety plans for each of the four schools.

"What felt safe and secure last Thursday doesn't anymore," said Mashpee schools Superintendent Ann Bradshaw. The meeting was called in the wake of the shootings Friday in Newtown, Conn., to look at the schools' current safety policies, as well as address what to do moving forward. "Tonight is the first step," she said.

Locked doors are constantly checked, she said, and there are buzzers, monitors and cameras at the entrances. The school also practices "code red" situations in the case of emergencies of this nature.

Going forward, Bradshaw said they will conduct these alerts at less controlled times, ones that are "more complex," such as recess or class changeover.

"In 32 years of law enforcement, I never thought I would have to discuss elementary school safety," said Mashpee Police Chief Rodney Collins.

Mashpee police are trained in an "active shooter" scenario, he said, and they have trained specifically at Mashpee High School. "Unfortunately," he said, they now have to train at the Kenneth C. Coombs School and the Quashnet Elementary School to learn the particular layout of those buildings in the event the unthinkable happens.

"We must be vigilant to suspicious activity," Collins said, "and report that activity to the police department."

Many departments employ a resource officer — a police officer who is stationed at schools — but Mashpee does not. In the past they did, he said, and that officer spent most of the time at the high school. Collins said that needs to be re-evaluated.

"(On-site officers) are the first line of defense. A direct radio line, instead of a 911 call, can save precious seconds," he said.

Neither Bradshaw nor Collins could say if there will be a resource officer put in Mashpee schools immediately, but Collins said it "needs to be reinstated."

He added police cannot "put officers on every corner, every classroom," but they will examine every factor to make sure their plans are justified.

Mashpee police and school officials will address what to do about a school resource officer, but he said, "Until further notice, officers are at the schools right now."

The floor was opened up to questions from the audience of more than 50 people. Collins said "nothing related to public safety is cost prohibitive" when asked if cost was the reason there is not an officer at each school.

"It was wonderful they put this together this quickly," said Sarah Provencher, 34, of Mashpee, who has a child in the school system and asked a question about tightening security during car pick-ups after school.

"I think they're doing a good job," said husband Pete Provencher, 34, also of Mashpee, who said he wants an armed resource officer at all Mashpee schools, which Collins said often discourages would-be violent criminals.

The Provenchers said they left the meeting "encouraged" about what Mashpee is doing.

"I met with my staff on this," Collins said, "and I take pride in the fact that any officer in the Mashpee Police Department would risk his or her life in order to save your students."